Olympus 2012 Annual Report Download - page 22

President Hiroyuki Sasa Discusses the Medium-Term Vision: Back to Basics
Olympus employees around the world will
work in unison to achieve the Medium-Term
Vision: Back to Basics and Olympus will be
reborn as a company with more robust
businesses and a stronger financial position.
I am sobered by the responsibility of managing Olympus at this crucial juncture where we face the
most serious crisis since Olympus was founded.
I joined Olympus in 1982, and over the course of nearly 30 years, including an overseas assignment in
the United States, I have accumulated experience in the Medical Business, primarily with endoscopes. When
I first started with Olympus, in my role as an endoscope developer, I was involved in the design of the world’s
first waterproof endoscope. Subsequently, on two occasions, I served as planning and development leader of
endoscope systems, mainstay Olympus products, and we successfully introduced leading-edge technologies,
such as the world’s first NBI1 and a high-definition imaging system. Products incorporating these
technologies have a highly favorable reputation among physicians, and I take pride in having contributed to
the expansion and acceleration of minimally invasive treatment using endoscopes. After serving as manager
of an endoscope development division, I became division manager in charge of marketing for the Medical
Business and worked to implement our global sales strategy.
What is required of Olympus at this time is results. It is not enough to merely prepare a medium-term
plan; the revitalization of Olympus is at stake, and we must without fail implement the plan. To create a new
Olympus on the basis of reflection on past events, we must first return to basics. In other words, I believe
that it is important to contribute to society by creating world-first, world-class products. I am confident that
we will not fail to overcome the current crisis if all Olympus employees everywhere in the world unite as One
Olympus to achieve reforms and our objectives by means of teamwork. To that end, I intend to stand at the
forefront of the effort, apply my wide-ranging experience in areas from development to marketing and sales,
and achieve profitable growth driven by the Medical Business. I consider my most important mission to be
the urgent improvement of our vulnerable financial position by restoring the damaged trust as quickly as
possible while simultaneously further enhancing shareholder value.
Q1
You became president in April 2012
in adverse circumstances in which
Olympus faced important business
challenges. Please describe your
aspirations as president and how
you will guide Olympus utilizing
your past experience.
1 NBI (narrow band imaging) is an
observation method that utilizes an
image-enhanced endoscopy technology
involving an optical-digital method.
Olympus was the first company in the
world to practically apply this method,
which facilitates the detection of difficult
to observe changes in mucosal
capillaries and fine mucosal patterns.
A
Fiscal year (“Fiscal,” “FY”), the year ended March 31
OLYMPUS 󱚈 Annual Report 2012
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